Flexible joint for the tone-arms of talking-machines.



v A. FISCHER. FLEXIBLE JOINT FOR THE TONE ARMS OP TALKING MACHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 29, 1911.

Patented May 26, 1914.

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arinxrrso'nnn, or xnlvsrner on, Lennon, ENGLAND.

FLEXIBLE JOINT FOB II-IE TONE-ARMS 0F TALKING-MACHINES.

eavers.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May26, 191a.

Application filed June 29, 1911. Serial No. 636.00%.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Annx FISCHER, a sub ject of the King of England, residing at 8 Maclisc road Kensington, London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Joints for the Tone-Arms of Talking-Machines; and I'do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention refers to flexible joints for the tone arms of talking machines and has for its object the removal of the tendency to bind, that in joints for which I obtained Letters Patent No. 879755 has been found to occur between the convex portion of the flange attached to the moving member and the concave portion ofthe flange attached to the fixed member.

"he flexible joint made according to my present invention comprises as in the previous case, two members, a fixed member in connection with the trumpet and a movable member in connection with the tone arm, but in place of providing curved flanges with their center of curvature on the same,

side of the joint as the moving member, I provide a flange in connection with one of the members which flange iscurved and has the center of curvature located on the same side of the joint as the fixed member the other member being provided with a bear- 5119' urface corresponding to and concentric with the aforesaid flange and being in addition provided with-parts extending beyond and around the edge of the flange carrying means coming on the other side Of the flange to keep the flange and the corresponding surface in contact.

In one way of carrying out my present invention, in place of providing a convex flange on the moving member coming be tween two flanges attached to the fixed member, I provide the fixed member with a con vex flange such flange being convex at the outer and concave at the inner surface, the curvatures being both struck from the same center and I provide themoving member, that is the tone arm, with two flanges curved so as to correspond to the inner and outer surfaces of the aforesaid fixed member and connected together so as to form a speciescontact with the convex flange attached to the fixed member in a manner analogous to that described and shown in connection with Figure 3 of my aforesaid specification or I may employ balls. coming between any of the bearing surfaces either resting directly upon such surfaces or working in grooves I therein, balls I provide screws coming at the back of the balls, which screws pass through the cap. I prefer that the directions in which the holes or grooves for the reception of Where it is desired to adjust the the balls are drilled shall be radial with respect to the center of rotation of the joint.

In another way of carrying out my invention I provide the moving member with a flange and the fixed member with two flanges forming a species of cap. In this case also I arrange that the center of curvature is on the trumpet side of the joint, corresponding alterations being. made in' the rest of the construction. In the case where I dispense with the grooves on the intermediate flanges and use balls merelv touching this flange, or where I dispense with the use of ball bean ings altogether, I may provide the moving member with lugs in order to prevent the rocking over motion of the sound box. And in order that my said invention may be bet ter understood, I wjll proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawing accompanying this specification, in which Fig. 1 shows side elevation of one form of my joint; Fig. 2 shows same in vertical longitudinal section; Fig. 3 shows similar view to Fig. 2 but with the .moving member in its extreme position. Fig. 4 shows plan of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 shows plan of Fig.2 with a portion cut by the line A B Fig. 2 in section. Fig. 6 shows sectional elevation similar to Fig.2 of another form of my inven-, tion, Fig. 7 shows plan of a detail. Fig. 8 is a diagram of the essential features of the invention.

The same letters and numerals of reference are employed to denote the same parts in all the views.

a shows convex flange which is attached to the. exit tube 7) provided at the top with a socket a forming the fixed member, and a pin 03 for retaining the flange e of the trum pet elbow in position.

f shows a flange similarly curved to the convex flange a and provided with a bearmg surface 9 which works against the'underside cap it in such a manner that the ball on and the screw are radial to the center of the curvature of the top of the flange a, the

fixed member.

n is a lock nut around the screws and p is a hole passing through the screw is to allow for lubrication when required. The halls m of which three are provided in the forms shown in the drawing work upon the top of the flange a, the fixed member, and

are so adjusted that the bearing face 9 of the flange 7 moves against the underside of the flange a with the minimum amount of friction necessary for a sound tight joint. It should be observed that the curvature of all the working surfaces is struck from the same center and that such center is on the trumpet side of the joint.

9 shows a bracket, seeFigs. 1- and t to which is fixed the socket (2 thus holding the flange a stationary.

It will be seen that it is possible to move the flange f and with it the cap it forming the movable outer member in any direction with respect to the flange a, the fixed inner member, for example it' may be given a rotary motion and a motion from side to side from any position.

9" shows tone'arm dotted at Fig. 1. This is attached to the opening 8 provided in the flange f and leading to the exit tube 1). As the tone arm is attached to the opening 8 which is in one with the' moving member it follows that the tone arm can move in any direction. Therefore when a sound box is on the end of the tone arm the sound box a similar lug screwed to the cap it at the 190- I sition of 180 degrees from the lug t. The lugs t and a project inwardly and come i Fig. 1.

in contact with the side of the exit tube 6 of the fixed member thus preventing any side action along the line C D of Fig. 5.

Referring to Figs. 6 and Y in this casein place of providing the fixed member with i done convex flange 1 provide the fixed mei her with two (outer) convex flanges o and w and the movable member with an (inner) similarly formed single flange 2.

'0 shows one of the flanges attached to the exit tube 6, and socket c and a pin (Z for retaining the flange of the trumpet elbow. The flange 2) has attached to it at some distanc'e therefrom a ring like cap or cover :0. The flanges 'v and w and the exit tube Z) and the socket c forming the fixed member are held by a bracket similar to the bracket The movable member is formed with the single flange 2. The flange 2 works against the bearing surface of the flange '0. The flange 2 is provided with a tube 4: lead ing to the opening .9 for attachment to the tone arm. The balls m in this case are held in the screwslc as before only they point up ward instead .of downward as previously, and the screws 70 screw into the ring-like cap or cover w, the balls coming on the under side of the flange 2, the movable member. The curvature of all the working faces is struck from the same center and such center is on the trumpet side of the joint as in the previous case. n

In order to prevent the rocking over of the sound box the movable member that is the flange 2 is provided with two lugs 5 which come in contact with the sides of the fixed member thus preventing the rocking over.

I may make my invention in many forms still keeping to the general principle of a flexible joint for the tone arm of talking machines, provided with a fixed convex flange or flanges correspondingly curved movable flanges or flange the curvature of the flanges being struck from a point on the trumpet side of the joint.

It will be observed that the center of curvature of both the flange 0; and the bearing surface 9 is well above the joint, thus providing a relatively long radius. In this way the needle at the outer end of the tone arm is made to traverse a relatively flat are which is inclined in the direction of the pull of the record on the needle. By thus causing the needle to rise at a relatively sharp angle in the direction of the pull of the record on the needle, a very easy movement is obtained which is not interfered with when the table wabbles in the usual way.

Fig. 8 is a diagram of the essential features of the invention and indicates the manner in which it operates. f indicates that part of the joint which is connected at m with the trumpet T. a indicates that part of the joint connected with the tone arm r which carries the needle N. C indicates the center ol curvature of the parts j and it and (2 indicates an arc struck from the center C and passing through the point of the needle. The record or table is indicated at \V,and the arrow F indicates a force which tends to pull the needle outward from the center of the record. \Vhen the table wobbles the needle moves in the are indicated at 0.

hat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent. in the United States of America is:

1. A flexible joint for the tone arm and trumpet of a talking machine, comprising a lixed member connected with the trumpetand a movable member connected with the tone arm, one of said members having 'a curved flange and the other member having a bearing surface corresponding to and concentric with said flange, and means acting on said liange for keeping it and the bearing surface in contact with each other,- the center oi curvature of said curved flange and bearing surface being" on the same side of the joint as the fixed member and located well outside the joint whereby the needle on the outer end of the tone arm is made to traverse a relatively flat are inclined in the direction of the pull of the record on the needle,

2. Ar tlcxible joint for the tone arm and trumpetot a talking machine, comprisinga fixed member connected with the trumpet and a movable member connected with the tone arm, one of said members havinga curved flange and the other member having a bearing surface corresponding to and concentric with said -flange, means acting on said liance for keeping it and the bearing surface in contact with each other, the center of curvature of said flange and bearing surface being located well above said joint whereby the needle on the outer end of the tone arm will rise at a relatively sharp angle in the direction of the pull of the record on the needle.

A flexible joint for the tone arm and trumpet of a talking machine, comprising a fixed member connected with the trumpet and provided with a concave convex flange, a movable member connected with the tone arm having a bearing surface corresponding to and in contact with said flange, and means supported by the movable member for holding the bearing surface and the flange in contactwith each other, the center of cur- 'ature of said flange and bearing surface be ing located well outside of and above the joint whereby the needle on the outer end I of the tone arm made to rise at a relatively sharp angle in the direction of the pull of the record on the needle.

i. A flexible joint for the tone arm and trumpet of a talkingmachine, comprising a fixed member connected with the trumpet and provided with a concave convex flange,

a movable member connected with the tone arm lltlVlIlQ' a bearing surtace corresponding to and in contact with the flange, a cap supported by the movable member, screw plugs carried by this cap, balls at the outer ends of said screw plugs lKHtllllfJf on the concavo convex flange and holding: it in contact with said bearing surface, the center of curvature of said flange and said bearing surface being located outside of and well above the joint whereby the needle on the outer end of the tone arm is made to traverse a rela: tively flat arc of large radius inclined in the direction of the pull ot the record on the needle.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signa ture, in presence 0t two witnesses.

ALFX FISCHER.

lli'itnessesz A. lhtowivn,

A, E. VIDAL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

